AN advert featuring the Lord's Prayer has been banned from cinemas in the run up to Christmas.

The Prime Minister David Cameron has waded into the debate denouncing the decision of Digital Cinema Media (DCM) bosses as "ridiculous".

The film, produced by JustPray.uk, shows the Lord's Prayer being recited by members of the public ranging from bodybuilders to children, and also features the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby.

The minute-long ad received clearance from the British Board of Film Classification and the Cinema Advertising Authority, but DCM has refused to show it.

Asked for the PM's response to the ban, a Downing Street spokesman told a regular Westminster media briefing: "He thinks it is ridiculous."

The spokesman declined to expand on the rationale behind the PM's view or to say whether Mr Cameron thought the decision should be reversed.

DCM, which sells advertising to some of Britain's biggest cinema chains, defended its decision to keep the advert off-screen, saying some ads could cause offence to people of different faiths, political persuasions or those of no faith.

The agency said it treats "all political or religious beliefs equally".

The London-based firm, which handles adverts for Odeon, Cineworld and Vue cinemas, responded as the Church of England (CoE) threatened legal action over the banning of the ad.

In a statement, DCM said: "DCM has a policy of not accepting 'political or religious advertising' content for use in its cinemas.

"Some advertisements - unintentionally or otherwise - could cause offence to those of differing political persuasions, as well as to those of differing faiths and indeed of no faith.

"In this regard, DCM treats all political or religious beliefs equally."

Archbishop Welby said it is "extraordinary" that Britain's biggest cinema chains have banned the advertisement.

The CoE initially believed it had been approved and would be played before showings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens from December 18.

But they were later told that due to a DCM policy not to run adverts which could potentially cause offence, the film would not be shown.

When asked for a copy of that policy, the CoE was told there was no formal policy document but that it had been agreed with DCM's members.

A formal policy now appears on DCM's website, stating: "To be approved, an advertisement must... not in the reasonable opinion of DCM constitute political or religious advertising."